The Mason County Courthouse – located in Mason, 75 miles south of Brownwood – went up in flames late Thursday night according to a story published on the Brady Today website, brady-today.com.

The Brady Today story stated the 111-year-old Mason County Courthouse erupted in flames Thursday night and it appears the structure is a total loss. The fire was spotted around 9:30 p.m. and fire crews from several neighboring departments responded to assist the Mason Volunteer Fire Department in containing the blaze.

The courthouse was undergoing an extensive renovation and all offices and records were moved to a different location on the square.

2 p.m. UPDATE: The Mason, Texas Facebook posted the following Friday afternoon – “It appears this fire was arson and the suspect is in custody. This individual is also suspected of starting another fire in Mason last night that destroyed a home.”

2:45 p.m. UPDATE: KNEL radio in Brady reports that police have apprehended Nick J. Miller after a long vehicle chase.